The Reality of ‘Shab-e-Bara’at’

Introduction


The purpose of our creation is nothing but the worship of Allâh, as Allâh says:

And I (Allâh) created not the jinn and mankind except that they should worship Me (Alone). [Al Qur’ân 51:56]

Moreover, the Muslim’s worship will not be accepted unless it meets two basic conditions:

a – Sincerity of intention towards Allâh, which means that the person’s worship should be devoted to Allâh Alone and his intention in all his words and deeds, both outward and inward, is to seek the pleasure of Allâh and none other. Allâh says (interpretation of the meanings):

And they were commanded not, but that they should worship Allâh, and worship none but Him Alone (abstaining from ascribing partners to Him) [Al Qur’ân 98:5]

b – It should be in accordance with the sharee’ah which Allâh has prescribed, and he should not worship Allâh in any other way. That is achieved by following the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and what he brought, and shunning anything that goes against it, and not inventing any new form of worship that has not been narrated in sound reports from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him).


Obligation of following the Sunnah

Allâh says (interpretation of the meanings):

Say (O Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) to mankind): "If you (really) love Allâh, then follow me (i.e. accept Islâmic Monotheism, follow the Qur'ân and the Sunnah), Allâh will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allâh is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful." Say (O Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)): "Obey Allâh and the Messenger (Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him))." But if they turn away, then Allâh does not like the disbelievers. [Al Qur’ân 3:31-32]

O you who believe! Obey Allâh and obey the Messenger (Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)), and those of you (Muslims) who are in authority. (And) if you differ in anything amongst yourselves, refer it to Allâh and His Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), if you believe in Allâh and in the Last Day. That is better and more suitable for final determination. [Al Qur’ân 4:59]

He who obeys the Messenger (Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)), has indeed obeyed Allâh [Al Qur’ân 4:80]

But no, by your Lord, they can have no Faith, until they make you (O Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)) judge in all disputes between them, and find in themselves no resistance against your decisions, and accept (them) with full submission. [Al Qur’ân 4:65]

And whatsoever the Messenger (Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)) gives you, take it; and whatsoever he forbids you, abstain (from it). And fear Allâh; verily, Allâh is Severe in punishment. [Al Qur’ân 59:7]

It is not for a believer, man or woman, when Allâh and His Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), have decreed a matter that they should have any option in their decision. And whoever disobeys Allâh and His Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), he has indeed strayed into a plain error. [Al Qur’ân 33:36]

The abovementioned âyahs and other similar ones make it abundantly clear that Allâh has made it obligatory on us to obey His Messenger (Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)). Allâh mentions the disbelief of those who reject the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)or give precedence to the words of their scholars and the laws and customs of their forefathers over the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)

In Islam, the Arabic word sunnah has come to denote the way Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), the Messenger of Allâh, lived his life. The Sunnah is the second source of Islâmic jurisprudence, the first being the Qur’ân. Both sources are indispensable; one cannot practice Islam without consulting both of them. The Arabic word hadeeth (pl. ahaadeeth) is very similar to Sunnah, but not identical. A hadeeth stands for 'what was transmitted on the authority of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), his deeds, sayings or tacit approval. In other words, the Sunnah has been recorded and preserved in the authentic hadeeth literature.


Completeness and Perfection of the Deen

By Allâh's blessing and mercy, Islâm contains the complete and perfect guidance for humanity. Allâh says (interpretation of the meanings):

This day, I have perfected your religion for you, completed My Favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islâm as your religion. [Al Qur’ân 5:3]

Islâm did not neglect any information needed by people to achieve happiness and avoid harm, in all matters - small or large. It informs them of all that would save them from the Fire and let them into the Gardens in the Hereafter. The completeness of Islâm obviously means that it cannot be completed further. Believing otherwise would imply one or more of the following dangerous conclusions:

1. That Allâh was not truthful in declaring this completeness.

2. That Allâh has forgotten or missed some details needed to complete the Deen.

3. That Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)has neglected or forgotten to convey some matters needed to complete the Deen.

Needless to add, all of the above conclusions lead a person to disbelief and take him out of the pale of Islâm. This explains why Islâm warns strongly against introducing bid`ahs into the Deen.


Concept of Bid’ah

Bid’ah is the opposite of Sunnah; according to sharee’ah, the definition of bid’ah is ‘worshipping Allâh in ways that Allâh has not prescribed’ i.e., ‘worshipping Allâh in ways that are not those of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)’ So everyone who worships Allâh in a manner that Allâh has not prescribed or in a manner that is not in accordance with the way of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), is an innovator, whether that innovated worship has to do with the Names and Attributes of Allâh, or to do with His rulings and laws. And there is no such thing in Islam as bid’ah hasanah (good innovation).

In the sahih ahaadeeth it is proven that the Messenger of Allâh (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) warned against bid’ah (innovation) and stated clearly that it is misguidance, so as to show the ummah how serious the matter is and put them off it. For example, it is narrated in al-Saheehayn from ‘Aa’ishah (may Allâh be pleased with her) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever introduces anything into this matter of ours that is not part of it will have it rejected.” [Sahih Al-Bukhari: Book 3, Volume 49, Hadeeth 861; Sahih Muslim: Book 18, Hadeeth 4266]

Jaabir (may Allâh be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allâh (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to say in his khutbah on Friday: “The best of speech is the Book of Allâh and the best of guidance is the guidance of Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). The worst of matters are those which are newly-invented, and every innovation is a going astray.” [Sahih Muslim: Book 4, Hadeeth 1885]. an-Nasaa’i added with a jayyid isnaad: “and every going astray will be in the Fire.”


Festivals and Celebrations in Islâm

Islâm allows its adherents to celebrate festivals but, like all other aspects of the Deen, festivals too, can only be legislated by Allâh and His Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). Anas (may Allâh be pleased with him) reported that upon arriving in al-Madeenah, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) found its people celebrating two days whose significance was held over from the Jaahiliyyah. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: When I came upon you, you had two days that you continued to celebrate from the Jaahiliyyah; indeed Allâh has substituted them for you with what is better: the day of sacrifice (Eid al-Adha) and the day of breaking the fast (Eid al-Fitr). [Sunan Abu Dawood: Book 3, Hadeeth 1130]


The Month of Shabaan

Shabaan is the eighth month of the Islâmic calendar. It falls between the months of Rajab and Ramadaan. Allâh's Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to spend most part of Shabaan by fasting. Aa'ishah (may Allâh be pleased with her) said: “The Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to fast until we thought he would never break his fast, and he would not fast until we thought he would never fast. I never saw the Messenger of Allâh (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) fasting for an entire month except in Ramadaan, and I never saw him fast more than he did in Shabaan.” [Sahih Al-Bukhari: Book 3, Volume 31, Hadeeth 190]. When Allâh's Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was asked, why he fasted so abundantly in the month of Shabaan, he (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: '(Shabaan) is a month to which people do not pay attention, between Rajab and Ramadaan, and it is a month in which deeds are lifted up to the Lord of the worlds. I like for my deeds to be lifted up when I am fasting.” [an-Nisa'ee, see Sahih al-Targheeb wa'l-Tarheeb, p. 425] This and other ahaadeeth of Allâh’s Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)encourage performing good deeds when people are likely to become negligent of Allâh’s remembrance and worship, like remembering Allâh in the market place, where people get busy in their dealings and in times of difficulty. The virtue and superiority of worshiping Allâh when people tend to become negligent of Allâh’s remembrance is because worship at such times is more difficult than worshiping Allâh when everybody is engaged in the worship.

Fasting in Shabaan serves as training before Ramadaan. However, fasting the whole month of Shabaan is against the Sunnah of Allâh’s Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). Ibn Abbas (may Allâh be pleased with him) said: “The Messenger of Allâh (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) did not fast any entire month apart from Ramadaan.” [Sahih Al-Bukhari: Book 3, Volume 31, Hadeeth 192]


Laylat al-Nusf min Sha’baan or ‘Shab-e-Bara’at’

Many people consider the fifteenth night of Shabaan to be a special night called “Shab-e-Bara’at” and associate this night with special characteristics and blessings. They believe that this is the night in which the Qur’ân was sent down and that the decrees are written on this night. They also believe that the dead visit their living relatives on this night. Based on such beliefs, this night is considered blessed and people spend it in various acts of worship such as offering nafil salaah, visiting graveyards and fasting on the following day. However, all of these beliefs are based on blind-following, and not on the Qur’ân and Sunnah. Here we will mention some of the false beliefs associated with this night and their refutation, insha’Allâh.


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a – The Night on which the Qur’ân was sent down


Some
people believe that the Qur’ân was revealed on the fifteenth night of
Shabaan and commemorate this night as being blessed and they base their
belief on the following saying of Allâh (interpretation of the
meanings):

We sent it (this Qur'ân) down on a blessed night [Al Qur’ân 44:3]


While the above âyah does say that the night on which the Qur’ân was
revealed was a blessed night, this âyah does not tell us as to which
night it was. This information is given elsewhere in the Qur’ân. Allâh
says (interpretation of the meanings):

Verily, We have sent it (this Qur'ân) down in the Night of Al-Qadr (Decree). [Al Qur’ân 97:1]

The
month of Ramadaan in which was revealed the Qur'ân, a guidance for
mankind and clear proofs for the guidance and the Criterion (between
right and wrong). [Al Qur’ân 2:185]

It is clear from the above
two âyahs that the night on which the Qur’ân was sent down is the
‘Night of Al-Qadr’ which is in the month of Ramadaan, and not Shabaan.
So, it is this ‘Night of Al-Qadr’ that Allâh refers to as ‘a blessed
night’ in Surah 44, Ayah 3. Hence, the belief that the fifteenth night
of Shabaan is the night on which the Qur’ân was sent down is false and
baseless.

b – The Night on which the Decrees are sent down


To believe that decrees are written on any particular night of our
lifetime is erroneous because Allâh wrote the decrees of everything
even before He created them. Allâh says (interpretation of the
meanings):

Verily, We have created all things with Qadar (Divine
Preordainments of all things before their creation as written in the
Book of Decrees – Al-Lauh Al-Mahfûz). [Al Qur’ân 54:49]

Yes, the
Decrees are sent down on particular nights but this night is the ‘Night
of Al-Qadr’ as Allâh says (interpretation of the meanings):

And
what will make you know what the Night of Al-Qadr (Decree) is? The
Night of Al-Qadr (Decree) is better than a thousand months (i.e.
worshipping Allâh in that night is better than worshipping Him a
thousand months, i.e. 83 years and 4 months). Therein descend the
angels and the Rûh [Jibrâîl (Gabriel)] by Allâh's Permission with all
Decrees, [Al Qur’ân 97:2-4]

Hence, the belief that the Decrees
are either written or sent down on the fifteenth night of Shabaan,
i.e., ‘Shab-e-Bara’at’ is false and baseless.

c – When does Allâh descend to the lowest heaven?

Some
people claim that Allâh descends to the lowest heaven on the fifteenth
night of Shabaan to accept His slaves’ prayers and pleas. This belief,
too, is wrong as indicated by the following hadeeth. Abu Huraira
reported Allâh's Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)
as saying: Our Lord, the Blessed and the Exalted, descends every night
to the lowest heaven when one-third of the latter part of the night is
left, and says: Who supplicates Me so that I may answer him? Who asks
Me so that I may give to him? Who asks Me forgiveness so that I may
forgive him? [Sahih Muslim: Book 4, Hadeeth 1656]

It is
evidently clear from the above hadeeth that Allâh descends to the
lowest heaven in the last third part of every night. Hence, there is no
special significance attached to the fifteenth night of Shabaan
regarding this matter.

d – Do the souls of the dead visit their relatives?

Those
who hold special significance for the fifteenth night of Shabaan and
commemorate it as ‘Shab-e-Bara’at’ also hold the belief that the souls
of their dead forefathers visit them on this night. Allâh and His
Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) have clearly
defined to us the journey of the soul after death and the abode of
both, the disbelieving souls and the righteous souls. This period
between the death and the Hereafter is known as 'Barzakh'.
Linguistically, 'Barzakh' means a veil, barrier or partition between
two things. Once the soul enters the realm of Barzakh, there is no
return for it back into the world as is clearly known from the Qur'ân
and the ahaadeeth of Allâh's Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah
be upon him)

Allâh says (interpretation of the meanings):

Until,
when death comes to one of them (those who join partners with Allâh),
he says: "My Lord! Send me back, So that I may do good in that which I
have left behind!" No! It is but a word that he speaks; and behind them
is Barzakh (a barrier) until the Day when they will be resurrected. [Al
Qur’ân 23:99-100].

This verse reveals the condition of the
disbeliever upon death; when he faces the realities of the Hereafter,
he wishes to return back to the world and mend his mistakes, in order
to avert the punishment. But he is plainly refused and confined in the
grave and punished for his sinful actions because he has entered the
Barzakh. It is impossible for him to escape the strong Guardian Angels
of Allâh and return back to this world.

The abode of the
righteous soul is Paradise, the Messenger of Allâh (peace and blessings
of Allaah be upon him) said: "The soul of a believer is a bird eating
from the trees of Paradise until Allâh restores it to its body on the
Day of Resurrection." [An-Nasa'ee, Ibn Majah and others; authenticated
by al-Albanee Sharh al-Aqeedah at-Tahaawiyyah (p. 455, footnote: 1)].
It is unlikely that the righteous soul, who is surrounded by the
bounties of Allâh, would leave the blessings of Allâh and come to the
world.

Allâh's Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon
him) said: "No servant who has good in store for him with Allâh and
dies ever wants to return to the Earth - even if he were to have the
whole world and everything that is in it - except for the martyr. That
is due to what he sees in the nobility of martyrdom. Verily, he would
like to return back to the Earth, in order to be martyred another
time." [Sahih Sunan at-Tirmidhee: Hadeeth 1341)]

But as the
Messenger of Allâh (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)informed,
even the martyr is refused the permission to return, he (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "The souls of the martyrs live
in the bodies of green birds who have their nests in chandeliers hung
from the throne of the Almighty. They eat the fruits of Paradise
wherever they like and then nestle in these chandeliers. Once, their
Lord cast a glance at them and said: "Do you want anything?" They said:
"What more can we desire? We eat the fruit of Paradise wherever we
like." Their Lord asked them the same question thrice. When they saw
that they would be continued to be asked and not left (without
answering the question), they said: "O Lord, we wish that You may
return our souls to our bodies so that we may be slain in Your cause
once again. When He (Allâh) saw that they had no need, they were left
(to their joy in Heaven)." [Sahih Muslim: 4651]

These and many
other proofs from the Qur'ân and the Sunnah deny the concept of the
soul's return, and thus there remains no doubt that souls of the dead
do not return back to the world. Hence, the belief that the souls of
our ancestors return to this world to visit our homes on
‘Shab-e-Bara’at’ is false and baseless.

[size="3"]Conclusion[/size]

All
in all, we find that there is nothing mentioned in the Qur’ân and
Sunnah about the fifteenth night of Shabaan having any special
significance. Those who have instituted false beliefs in the masses
regarding this night have no evidence to back up their claims. Rather,
all the ahaadeeth that are supposedly talk of the grandeur of this
night are either mawdoo (fabricated) or daeef (weak). Hence, all
special acts of worship performed on this night including, but not
limited to, prayers, fasting and visiting graves are innovations in the
Deen of Allâh that incur the Wrath of Allâh.

We, therefore,
request the sincere Muslim to dissociate himself from all such
innovated beliefs and practices that have no basis in the Qur’ân and
Sunnah and sincerely strive in doing that which was taught by the
Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), for that is the
only way to attain Allâh’s Pleasure. And therein lies our success in
this world and the next. And Our Final Call is – All praises are for
the One and Only God and Creator Allâh, who alone is worthy of
devotion, complete submission and worship. I declare that there is no
other deity or god besides Allâh. We also declare that Prophet Muhammad
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) is the Last and Final
Messenger of Allâh.

from email

Dear Admin
I was thinking about this asue as well i want to thank you very mach for your hard works
now i got some thing concerning this night as well

Wish you all the best
bismell